Multiple coupling



T. C. KREMER.

MULTIPLE COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED APR. 18, 1919.

1 348,8 1 1 Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

c m mu 2% PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE C. KREMER, OF SI-IAR-PSBURG BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOLIGHTNING COUPLER LINK COMPANY, OF

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SEARPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A

MULTIPLE COUPLING.

Application filed April 18,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE C. KREMER, a citizen of the United States,and residing in Sharpsburg borough, in the county of Allegheny and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered new and useful provementsin Multiple Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a new and improved adjustable coupler forchains and for similar purposes.

In the use of the ordinary single or clouble coupler of the coactinghook type no means are provided for obtaining different degrees oftautness in the coupled chain or cable nor for taking up slack.

The object I have in view is the remedy of this defect.

Generally speaking, 'my improved coupler is of the coacting hook typeand comprises a pair of plates pivotally connected together and providedwith a plurality of pans of oppositely disposed and coacting hooks. Ialso provide projecting ears on the ends of the plates which may beconveniently grasped by the fingers in opening the coupler to release orreceive a chain link or cable rin N ovel features of construction andarrangement of parts will appear from the following description. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view showing myinvention applied to a coacting hook coupler, the same being shownclosed and connecting together two chain ends; Fig. 2 is an edge view ofthe same; Fig. 3 is a side view showing the coupler open so that thechain end shown 1n dotted lines may be released; Fig. 4 is an elevationshowing my invention applied to a double ended coupler, the same beingshown open, and Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the same closed.

The following is a detailed description of the drawing, reference beingfirst had to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

A and B represent a pair of plates, which in the lighter and smallerforms of my im proved coupler may be stamped from plate or heavy sheetmetal, but in the heavier forms of my coupler should be malleablecastings or forgings. At one end said plates A and B are pivotedtogether face to face Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 290,924.

by the rivet or other pivot member 1 by means of which the clevis orhalf link 2 which is engaged by thelink G of one of the chain ends, mayalso be secured to the coupler. The two plates are provided with two ormore pairs of oppositely extending hooks 3-3 and dl, the members ofwhich pairs,

when the plates are in registration, overlap and coact to form pockets,such as 5 and 6 in which the link D of the other chain end may beengaged. In Figs. 1 and 2, the link D is engaged by the hooks 33 andthus is secured in pocket 5, while in Fig. 3 the link D is shown engagedby one of the hooks a, so that should the coupler be closed, the linkwould be secured in the pocket 6, thus giving more slack or greatercombined chain length.

To facilitate the opening of the coupler I provide the free ends of theplates A and B with projecting ears 7 which, when the coupler is closed,as shown in Fig. 1, do not register, so as to be conveniently graspedwith the fingers and spread apart to open the coupler without the use ofa tool.

In Figs. a and 5, I show my invention applied to a double ended couplerwherein the two plates A and B are hinged together face to face at theircenters by the rivet 1 the opposite ends of each plate being providedwith a plurality of hooks, the hooks on one end being in reverse to thehooks on the other end and the coacting hooks on the two plates beingopposed. In the use of this form of my improved coupler a very materialtightening or loosening of the chain may be effected without impairingthe security of the connection.

My coupler is possessed of a number of substantial advantages over thoseof "the prior art. Thus when used to connect up the cross chains to theannuli of anti-skid chains for motor vehicles, or to connect the ends ofthe annulus chain together, the connection can be quickly made orreleased without the use of tools and the proper tautness or slack maybe afforded without difficulty. This feature is also of great advantagein heavy service, as for instance cargo slings for dock use, the propertautness or snugness being quickly obtained. The grasping ears also arevery advantageous as they enable the coupler to be opened with thefingers insteead of prying tration said hooks coact in pairs to formforth.

pockets, whereby varying degrees of tautness may be obtained,substantially as set 2. A multiple coupler consisting of a pair of flatplates pivoted together face to face and adapted to be swung into andout of overlapping registration, each plate beyond its pivotalconnection being provided with a plurality of hooks facedtoward thepivot, the correspondinghooks on the plates being opposed. to each otherto form pairs whereby when the plates are in registration thecorresponding hooks overlap "and form a plurality of pockets at varyingdistances from the pivot whereby different degrees of tautness may beobtained, substantially as set forth. V

3. A coupler for chain ends and. similar purposes comprising a pair ofplates pivoted together face to face and adapted to .beswung into andout'of overlapping registration, said plates being provided withoppositely disposed hooks which overlap, when the plates are inregistration, to secure a chain link, and projecting ears on the ends ofsaid plates adapted to be grasped by the fingers to force said plates toswing out swung into, and out of overlapping registration, said plate-sbeing provided with oppositely disposed hooks which overlap, when theplates are in registration, to secure a chain link, and means on theopposite sides of the plates adapted to be grasped by the fingers toswing saidplates out of registration. 1

5. A coupler consisting of a pairof fiat plates pivoted together face toface and adapted to be swung into and out of overlapping registration,each plate beyond its pivotal connection being provided with apluralityof open sidedhooks and the hooks on one plate being oppositelydisposed to the corresponding hooks'on the other'plate whereby whenthesaid plates are in registration said hooks coaot in pairs to forminclosures of varying distances from the pivot for the purposespecified.

6. A double ended coupler consisting of a pair of fiat plates centrallypivoted together face to face adapted to be swung into and out ofoverlapping registration, each plate to each side of its pivotbeingprovided with a plurality of open sided hooks, the hooks on one platebeing oppositely arranged to the corresponding hooks on the other platewhereby when said plates are in registration the hooks coactin pairsto'form inclos'ures of varying distances from the pivot for the purposespecified.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 14th day of April, 1919.

' THEODORE O. KREMER.

